Oxford News
New Sainsbury’s and NatWest deal could give customers cash boost
The partnership, set to roll out in the second half of the year, could mean customers earn more value and extra points simply by managing their finances alongside their weekly shop.
Under the agreement, Sainsbury’s customers will be offered a range of new financial products, including:
- Instant access savings accounts
- Personal loans with tailored rates
- A new Nectar-linked credit card
- Exclusive offers for Nectar members
Those with Nectar accounts could unlock “tailored rates”, meaning better deals depending on their profile.
The key appeal is that shoppers may be able to earn points and real-world value on everyday spending while also growing their savings.
Nectar perks could mean more value in your pocket
The new NatWest Nectar credit card is expected to offer:
- Points on everyday spending
- Bonus rewards opportunities
- Integration with Sainsbury’s shopping
For regular shoppers, that could translate into ongoing savings or rewards on groceries and beyond, helping stretch household budgets further.
The move follows NatWest’s acquisition of Sainsbury’s Bank’s core business in 2025 and signals a bigger push into everyday consumer finance.
NatWest says it already serves one in three UK families and this partnership is part of a wider strategy that includes deals with The AA and Saga.
Solange Chamberlain of NatWest said the deal combines “financial knowhow with a seamless digital experience and Sainsbury’s scale”.
A shift toward shopping and banking in one place
The new products will be available through Sainsbury’s digital channels, meaning customers could check savings, apply for loans and earn rewards all alongside their regular shopping experience.
Patrick Short at Sainsbury’s said the partnership builds on a shared focus on delivering strong service for customers.
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The deal reflects a wider trend of banks integrating into platforms people already use.
NatWest has also teamed up with Rightmove to offer instant mortgage decisions, showing how financial services are becoming faster and more embedded in daily routines.
Full details are still to come, but the message is clear.
If you shop at Sainsbury’s, you could soon earn more, save more and access finance in one place.
With tailored rates and rewards on offer, the key question is how much extra value shoppers could unlock without changing their routine.
Oxford News
Police officer accused of sexualised language & behaviour
Edward Reed will stand before retired detective chief constable Paul Mills during the panel hearing at Thames Valley Police Headquarters in Kidlington next month.
From Wednesday, July 15, he will defend allegations from various dates in 2023 about the “unwanted” use of sexualised language and behaviour toward and in the presence of female colleagues.
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During that time, Mr Reed was an officer based in Oxfordshire, prior to his resignation.
It is alleged that Former Police Constable Reed breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to Authority, Respect and Courtesy, Equality and Diversity and Discreditable Conduct.
The appropriate authority allege that if these allegations are proven, the conduct would amount to gross misconduct for which dismissal would be justified.
Oxford News
Jeremy Clarkson issues heart breaking cancer update
The 66-year-old broadcaster and journalist made the announcement during the final two episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, released on Wednesday.
He shared the news with co-stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland during a conversation at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Mr Clarkson said: “I’ve got cancer.”
When Mr Cooper asked where the cancer was located, Mr Clarkson replied: “Where it is, is of no concern to anybody.
“I’ve known since May.”
He explained that the cancer was detected early following a medical in May and described it as “aggressive”.
Mr Clarkson said: “I was praying we could get the harvest done and then I could go and get some treatment, but it’s going to be slap bang in the middle.”
Later in the episode, he revealed he had surgery to remove 10 per cent of his prostate.
He also reflected on what has been a difficult year for his health, including a serious heart issue that required the fitting of two stents.
He said: “So we started the year and I had coronary heart disease and ended it with me with cancer.”
The series ends with footage of Mr Clarkson in a hospital bed as he undergoes treatment.
He told viewers: “Some of the treatment has gone awry, let’s say.
“I’m going to be here for a little while.
“I’m nil by mouth, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
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“What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t.
“Take care, everyone.”
Despite his diagnosis, Mr Clarkson continued working throughout 2025.
Production on the sixth series of Clarkson’s Farm is now expected to pause to allow time for his recovery.
What do you think of the latest Clarkson’s Farm series? Let us know in the comments
Oxford News
New Oxford pubs and bars app shows live pub deals and offers
Charlbury-based Richard Coffey launched Bar Trender around six weeks ago to help businesses facing damage, and ultimately closure, from rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Richard Coffey started the venture which has been accepted by a plethora of Oxford pubs and bars (Image: Richard Coffey)
In the city, 22 venues have signed up, including pubs in hotspots such as Cowley Road and Jericho.
The venture was seeded while travelling in Australia. There, he noticed Sydney and Melbourne’s bar scenes were built around happy hours, a culture which he said didn’t really exist back in the UK.
After 10 years of hard work, after leaving a London start-up, he pursued the venture with the help of Artificial Intelligence to cut team and budget requirements.
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He said: “I kept finding myself not knowing what was on, where had decent deals, or which pubs had the features I was looking for. The information existed, it just wasn’t anywhere in one place.”
The app, which provides full autonomy to the business, helps to boost their sales by providing visibility and awareness for the consumer.
Bar Trender app (Image: Bar Trender)
He says this comes at a time when people are “more conscious than ever about where they spend their money”.
He said: “The idea of being able to see what deals are near you before you decide where to go is genuinely useful right now in a way it perhaps wouldn’t have been five years ago.
“The cost of living crisis has fundamentally changed how people make decisions about going out.
“It’s not that people don’t want to go out, but they’re making more considered choices about where they spend their money.”
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The venture will also support the wider hospitality sector, which is also under “enormous pressure”.
Bar Trender is proud to support Tom Kerridge’s VAT’s The Problem campaign, which is calling for a 10 per cent cut in VAT for hospitality venues.
Bar Trender app is available on app stores now (Image: Richard Coffey)
He said: “Energy costs, wage increases, food and drink inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic have squeezed margins to the point where venues that were thriving five years ago are now struggling to survive.
“We’re seeing more pub closures than at any point in recent memory and once they are lost, are very rarely replaced.”
A launch event will take place at Plush on Friday, June 16, with free shots and drink vouchers available to anyone who has the app downloaded.
Christopher Farr, owner of the LGBTQ+ night club and bar, said the venue is committed to making clubbing safe, affordable and fun.
He said: “The partnership is the perfect way to communicate our affordable drink deals in a fun and easy to use app.”
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